January 8, 2019, the presentation of the Acceleration of Startups in Agricultural Technologies program, which will be implemented by the INNOLAND Incubation and Acceleration Center of the State Agency for Citizen Services and Social Innovations under the President of Azerbaijan, with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan.

The event was addressed by the Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture of Azerbaijan on innovations Shabnam Mamedova, who noted in her speech that the use of innovations in the agricultural sector had already begun. Among the activities, the Acceleration program will be implemented during the first this year. The program applications has already been announced, which will last until January 20.

At the same time, Sh. Mamedova stressed that support is also provided for start-ups whose technologies and innovations can be applied in other areas.

The event discussed prospects for cooperation between the parties. It was also proposed to conduct incentive and stimulating activities for owners of ideas in the field of agriculture.

Note that INNOLAND is an incubation, acceleration and research center created for the development of the private sector in Azerbaijan, as well as outside, to encourage innovation and expand the startup movement. INNOLAND consists of a coworking center, incubation, acceleration, and the IT Training and Education Center.

The “Modern Education and Innovation” panel discussion was held at the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University within the framework of the event organized in partnership between “INNOLAND” Incubation and Acceleration Center and the “ADPU Enactus” international program.

Before the panel discussion, Asaf Zamanov, Vice-Rector for Science and Innovation at ADPU; Laman Ahmadova, Advisor to the Director of the Innovation Center; Nicat Amiraslanov, Head of INNOLAND Incubation and Acceleration Center; and Zenfira Seyidova, Coordinator of the "ADPU ENACTUS" team, delivered speeches emphasizing the importance of implementing innovative approaches in education and the contribution of such events to the generation of new ideas.

The panel was moderated by Ziniddin Babayev, Deputy Head of the Project Management Department at the Innovation Center. Speakers included Ahmet Köse, Head of the "Bilim Azerbaijan" project; Khayala Fatullayeva, Head of the Digital Economy Department at the Center for Analysis and Coordination of the Fourth Industrial Revolution; Isa Gasimov, Head of the "Enterprise Azerbaijan" portal; Aytan Guliyeva-Rzayeva, Senior Training Specialist at the ASAN Innovative Development Center; and Mail Yagub, Head of the "Sociology Academy".

During their speeches, the speakers shared their views and experiences on the importance of applying innovative methods, digital tools, and startup culture in education. The event attracted great interest from young teachers and students, who engaged in extensive discussions and addressed questions to the panelists.

At the end, participants were awarded certificates.

Meeting on “Special Regulatory Regime” for Fintech Startups Held

A meeting on the “Special Regulatory Regime,” which is of significant importance for the fintech ecosystem, was successfully held with the joint organization of the Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the INNOLAND Incubation and Acceleration Center.

During the presentation, detailed information was provided on the purpose of the special regulatory regime, evaluation criteria for applications, and the pilot process, followed by extensive discussions in this direction. The session was both informative and practically useful for startups operating in the fintech sector.

Speakers:
• Sahib Hasanov– Head of Department, Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan
• Vagif Guliyev– Senior Specialist, Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan

The meeting included extensive discussions on existing opportunities for the fintech ecosystem, regulatory requirements, innovation regulation, and future cooperation prospects. A Q&A session was also organized for participants, during which current issues in the field were explained in detail.